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Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 pl · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen
Original fileThe sea nymph Galatea is shown standing upon a shell-chariot pulled through the water by two dolphins, steering them with reins. She is accompanied by sea-dwellers including tritons blowing conch shells and nymphs, while cupids with bows fly through the clouds above. The scene is framed by a border of green leaves and decorative swirls on a ceiling.
This composition is a reproduction of Raphael's 1514 fresco, which serves as a primary visual expression of Neoplatonic beauty. It reflects the Renaissance synthesis of classical myth and humanist philosophy, specifically the concept of the soul's ascent through the contemplation of physical harmony and 'celestial love'.
Angelo Poliziano
Poliziano's 'Stanze per la giostra' provided the literary inspiration for the depiction of Galatea and her marine retinue.
Marsilio Ficino
The painting embodies the Ficinian ideal of 'celestial beauty' which directs the mind toward divine truths.
Object
Oil on panel
mythological
Digital Source
Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 pl
Own work
2592 × 3565 px
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 1, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.